Personalized wheelchair stolen while victim shopped at West Kelowna Walmart

Kim Anderson

Police are urging the return of a personalized wheelchair stolen yesterday, Oct. 26, 2016, while the owner shopped at the West Kelowna Walmart. Police have release this photo, which is similar to the stolen wheelchair.

Image Credit: Contributed/B.C. RCMP

October 27, 2016 - 11:04 AM

WEST KELOWNA - Yesterday, a thief made off with a valuable personalized wheelchair, while the owner shopped in a motorized chair provided by the store.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 at 3:04 p.m., police responded to a theft at the Walmart on Louie Drive in West Kelowna.

Upon arriving, police learned a personalized wheelchair worth approximately $3,000 was stolen while the owner, a Summerland resident, shopped, Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in a release.

O’Donaghey says the stolen wheelchair is a Helio A7 aluminum chair. Police are sharing a photo of a similar chair, but the stolen chair is completely black, has polymer rims with as many as six thicker spokes, an upgraded seat cushion, removed footrests and the brand name "Motion Composites" on the rear of the back rests.

“RCMP would like to quickly re-unite the victim of this senseless crime, with his much needed mobility device,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “We urge the person who took the chair to drop it off at any RCMP detachment or simply return it to the store."

Investigators are obtaining video surveillance footage from the store that police say will show the thief 'in the act.'

Police are asking anyone with any information is to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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